T71 Dudelange controlled the second half to beat Kordall Steelers 86-75 at grimler/central, completing a 2-0 sweep in this season's head-to-head (89-77 away in October). After a balanced first half (25-25; 21-22), KDS led 47-46 at the break. The game flipped after halftime: T71 opened the third quarter with a 12-3 burst (from 46-48 to 58-51) fueled by a Jimmie Lee Taylor III (Season PPG: 21.77, RPG: 7.69, AssPG: 1.13) triple and steady free throws, stretching to the night's largest lead at 70-57 before managing the gap to the finish.
Shooting efficiency decided it. T71 posted good percentages from 2 points (55%) and 3 points (41%), while KDS struggled at 2 points (43%) and from deep (16%). KDS lived at the line (28/41, 68%) but left points there; T71 were 15/26 (58%). Despite losing the turnover battle (16-7) and the offensive glass (7-16), T71's third-quarter defense (24-12) and shot-making were decisive.
Among T71's foreign contingent, Maurice Calloo (26, 2.03m, USA) debuted with 25 points, hitting an excellent 3/3 from three. Taylor III added 22 and three straight free throws in the third. From the local core, Ivan do Rosario Delgado (Season PPG: 10.60, RPG: 4.69, AssPG: 3.23) chipped in 13, while Christopher Jack (Season % 2P: 52.0, 3P: 33.98) scored 8. Joe Kalmes (8 pts) and Taylor III both finished in foul trouble, with Kalmes fouling out; an unsportsmanlike by Finn Reisdorffer in Q3 and a C1 on coach Yves Defraigne did not derail T71.
For KDS's foreigners, Robertas Jonaitis (Season PPG: 24.36, RPG: 9.88, AssPG: 1.71) delivered a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double and knocked down four free throws in a row in Q2; Andre Snoddy (Season PPG: 20.11, RPG: 9.70, AssPG: 2.80) led with 24. Among locals, Gianluca Pellegrino hit 13, Steve Kuhlmann 9.
Context matters: T71 fielded two professional players to KDS's one. In the table, T71 climb to 4th, while KDS sit 8th, now on a two-game slide in their last three.
(AI generated)